University of Chicago Press: New Titles in Philosophy of Sciencehttp://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/rss/books/su46RSS.xml
The latest new books in Philosophy of Scienceen-usTue, 31 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT1440Feed-Forwardhttp://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo19211873.html
Even as media in myriad forms increasingly saturate our lives, we nonetheless tend to describe our relationship to it in terms from the twentieth century: we are consumers of media, choosing to engage with it. In Feed-Forward, Mark B. N. Hansen shows just how outmoded that way of thinking is: media is no longer separate from us but has become an inescapable part of our very experience of the world. Drawing on the speculative empiricism of philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, Hansen reveals how new media call into play elements of sensibility that greatly affect human selfhood without in any way belonging to the human. From social media to data-mining to new sensor technologies, media in the twenty-first century work largely outside the realm of perceptual consciousness, yet at the same time inflect our every sensation. Understanding that paradox, Hansen shows, offers us a chance to put forward a radically new vision of human becoming, one that enables us to reground the human in a non-anthropocentric view of the world and our experience in it.<div>Even as media in myriad forms increasingly saturate our lives, we nonetheless tend to describe our relationship to it in terms from the twentieth century: we are consumers of media, choosing to engage with it. In <i>Feed-Forward</i>, Mark B. N. Hansen shows just how outmoded that way of thinking is: media is no longer separate from us but has become an inescapable part of our very experience of the world.<br><br> Drawing on the speculative empiricism of philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, Hansen reveals how new media call into play elements of sensibility that greatly affect human selfhood without in any way <i>belonging</i> to the human. From social media to data-mining to new sensor technologies, media in the twenty-first century work largely outside the realm of perceptual consciousness, yet at the same time inflect our every sensation. Understanding that paradox, Hansen shows, offers us a chance to put forward a radically new vision of human becoming, one that enables us to reground the human in a non-anthropocentric view of the world and our experience in it.<br></div>Literature and Literary Criticism: General Criticism and Critical TheoryMedia StudiesPhilosophy: General PhilosophyPhilosophy of ScienceMon, 12 Jan 2015 06:00:00 GMTMark B. N. Hansen9780226199696Climate Conundrumshttp://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/C/bo19185853.html
It is generally assumed that, in polite company, you don’t talk politics, religion, or money. But in recent years, it seems “climate change” needs to be added to that list. Incorporating all of the above, few topics can divide a dinner party faster. Yet, while much ink has been spilled on both sides of the issue, few have considered the debate itself and what it reveals about modern culture.Climate Conundrums is a journey through how we as humans think, individually and collectively, about the debate. It eschews rhetoric or fist-pounding conclusions and instead explores our ongoing attempts to reach a societal understanding about climate change and how we should respond to it. The essays throughout are broadly organized around our relationship with nature, the challenges facing human society, and the path ahead for civilization. Each begins with a question—Can we make nature better? Could science and religion reconcile?—and from there follows an introspective path through all sides of the debates. Some are longstanding issues, such as whether humans are growing increasingly distant from nature. Others are brought on by recent developments, such as whether technology can eventually solve all of society’s needs. While no final answers are given, the insights that come from reflecting on these questions can help us better find our way and better connect with each other across the climate divide.<div>It is generally assumed that, in polite company, you don’t talk politics, religion, or money. But in recent years, it seems “climate change” needs to be added to that list. Incorporating all of the above, few topics can divide a dinner party faster. Yet, while much ink has been spilled on both sides of the issue, few have considered the debate itself and what it reveals about modern culture.<br><br><i>Climate Conundrums </i>is a journey through how we as humans think, individually and collectively, about the debate. It eschews rhetoric or fist-pounding conclusions and instead explores our ongoing attempts to reach a societal understanding about climate change and how we should respond to it. The essays throughout are broadly organized around our relationship with nature, the challenges facing human society, and the path ahead for civilization. Each begins with a question—Can we make nature better? Could science and religion reconcile?—and from there follows an introspective path through all sides of the debates. Some are longstanding issues, such as whether humans are growing increasingly distant from nature. Others are brought on by recent developments, such as whether technology can eventually solve all of society’s needs.<br><br> While no final answers are given, the insights that come from reflecting on these questions can help us better find our way and better connect with each other across the climate divide.</div>Philosophy of ScienceMon, 15 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMTWilliam B. Gail9781935704744